BEAUMONT, Texas – The 15/16^th-ranked Lamar University Cardinals (5-2/3-1 SLC) return to action Saturday when they host Houston Christian for Homecoming. The Cardinals, who had climbed into the top 10, are looking to bounce back from their first FCS loss of the season, while Houston Christian has been one of the biggest storylines of 2026. Both Lamar and HCU (4-3/3-1 SLC) sit tied for second in the Southland standings.
 
The Cardinals will look to get back on track Saturday at home, a place where they are a perfect 3-0 on the season. While HCU sent shockwaves through the Southland and country following their Week 0 upset at then No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana. The Huskies have played two FBS programs this season and if you throw out those two games their lone FCS set back would be an overtime loss at UIW.
 
The two schools enter the week nearly even in the stats in terms of scoring offense and defense. The Huskies sit just ahead of LU averaging 31.6 points per game while Lamar averages 30.1. That number for Big Red has been on the rise each week since beginning Southland Conference play.
 
It's the exact opposite on the defensive side of the ball. The Cardinals are third in the league allowing just 24.3 points per game while HCU is fourth at 25.4 per game.
 
The Cardinals have the league's leading rusher (in terms of total rush yards) in junior Jojo Uga (73-447 - 5 TDs). Uga is second in the league in average yards per game and leads all Southland rushers with five touchdowns. In addition to that, junior quarterback Aiden McCown is coming off one of the best stat games of his career completing 27 passes for a career-high 297 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Defensively, Andrew Huff has recorded three sacks in the past two games and currently leads the team in tackles for losses (5.5) and sacks (4.0).
 
The history between the two schools is not very long. The Cardinals own a 5-3 advantage in a series that began in 2014 but hasn't been played since 2023 (a two-point LU victory in Houston).
 
Saturday's Homecoming contest is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff from Provost Umphrey Stadium. It will be broadcast on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Huskies
The Cardinals hold a 5-3 (.625) overall record in the series with Houston Christian but are 2-2 (.500) all-time at home against the Huskies. The first meeting between the two schools came during the 2014 season, but Saturday will be the first since 2023. Lamar is going in search of consecutive wins in the series, and its first win in Beaumont since 2018.
 
LU on Homecoming
Historically, Homecoming has not been a good day on the gridiron for Lamar University. The Cardinals are just 24-29-1 (.454) all-time on Homecoming. The Cardinals had lost seven-straight Homecoming games prior to head coach Pete Rossomando's arrival but has won two of the past three. LU has faced Houston Christian (formerly Houston Baptist) three times on Homecoming posting a 1-2 (.333) record in those games.
 
Century Mark
Sophomore receiver Blake Thomas had a career night Saturday at Southeastern Louisiana. The Houston native hauled in eight catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. It marks the second time this season that Lamar has had a receiver record 100 receiving yards with two touchdown receptions (Davin Driskel at Nicholls). Thomas' career night missed one of the top 25 single-game performances in school history, in terms of receiving yards, by just seven yards.
 
The Rossomando Effect
Since the arrival of head coach Pete Rossomando, Lamar has made historic strides. LU is coming off an NCAA FCS Playoff appearance and is currently in the midst of its best run of success (in terms of consecutive winning seasons) since the mid 1960s. Just four games into his fourth season, Rossomando had already won more games at LU than any previous coach after four years.